Track assembly for converting wheeled vehicles

ABSTRACT

A track assembly for converting a normally wheeled motor vehicle having a plurality of wheel mounts at least one of which is driven, into a track-laying vehicle. Support means of the track assembly has mounted thereon wheel means including ground wheels and drive wheels. Tracks are trained about the wheels and engage with the drive wheels so as to be driven by the same, and coupling means can be bolted or otherwise secured to the driven wheel mount or wheel mounts of the vehicle and is connected in motion-transmitting relationship with the drive wheels of the track assembly so as to transmit motion to the latter.

United States Patent 1 Rasenberger 11 3,737, l 1 June 5, 1973 [541 TRACKASSEMBLY FOR CONVERTING WHEELED VEHICLES 21 Appl. No.: 147,783

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 3,590,935 7/1971 Celia ..305/29FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 263,532 11/1911 Germany ..180/5 APrimary Examiner-Richard .1. Johnson Attorney--Michael S. Striker [57]ABSTRACT A track assembly for converting a normally wheeled motorvehicle having a plurality of wheel mounts at least one of which isdriven, into a track-laying vehicle. Support means of the track assemblyhas mounted thereon wheel means including ground wheels and drivewheels. Tracks are trained about the wheels and engage with the drivewheels so as to be driven by the same, and coupling means can be boltedor otherwise secured to the driven wheel mount or wheel mounts of thevehicle and is connected in motion-transmitting relationship with thedrive wheels of the track assembly so as to transmit motion to thelatter.

18 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patented in 5,

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1 TRACK ASSEMBLY FOR CONVERTING WIIEELED VEHICLES BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates generally to track assemblies,and more particularly to a track assembly for converting a normallywheeled motor vehicle having a plurality of wheel mounts at least one ofwhich is driven, into a track-laying vehicle.

It is already known to provide converting assemblies which are capableof converting a wheeled vehicle into a track-laying vehicle. Inparticular, this is known for making a wheeled vehicle suitable fortraversing snowy terrain. However, it is difficult in the constructionsknown from the prior art, to effect a change-over from wheeled mode oflocomotion to a track-laying mode. Aside from this, the prior-artconstructions of such converting assemblies require that the assembly isusually to be accommodated in the wheel well or wells of the vehicle,which means that the available space is substantially limited and,concomitantly, the maximum possible width of the track of such anassembly is similarly limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of the presentinvention to provide a track assembly of the type under discussion whichis not possessed of the aforementioned disadvantages.

More particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide atrack assembly for converting a normally wheeled motor vehicle into atrack-laying vehicle, and more particularly an assembly which makes thispossible rapidly and with a minimum of difficulty, and furthermorewithout requiring the necessity for carrying out any substantial changeson the vehicle itself.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide such a trackassembly which permits rapid and simple re-conversion of the vehicle toan all-wheeled mode.

It is still an additional object of the invention to provide such atrack assembly which can utilize rather wide tracks in order to improvethe efficiency of the assembly in various types of terrain. Inparticular, the track assembly is to make the vehicle which it convertsfrom a wheeled into a track-laying mode of locomotion, suitable forpreparing skiing runs and the like. In pursuance of the above objects,and of others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of theinvention resides in a track assembly for converting a normally wheeledmotor vehicle having a plurality of wheel mounts at least one of whichis driven, into a track-laying vehicle. The assembly comprises supportmeans, wheel means mounted on the support means and including drivewheel means, and track means trained about the wheel means and engagingwith the drive wheel means so as to be driven by the same. Furthermore,the assembly comprises coupling means carried by the support meansconnected with the drive wheel means in motion-transmittingrelationship, and this coupling means is adapted to be connected withthe one wheel mount of the motor vehicle in motionreceivingrelationship.

In a motor vehicle it is actually the brake drum, on which the wheel ismounted, which constitutes the wheel hub ofa wheel. By removing thewheel or wheels which are to be replaced by the novel track assembly,

the coupling means can be connected with the brake drum or drums inreleasable relationship, and inasmuch as these drum or drums rotate ifthey are on the driven axle of the vehicle, motion can be transmitted inthis manner to the drive wheel means of the track assembly and fromthere to the track means thereof. This is of course the simplest mannerof coupling the track assembly with the motor vehicle which is to beconverted. The remaining wheels of the vehicle may remain in place, andthis mode of conversion is not only rather quick and reliable, but alsoit requires in effect no changes on the motor vehicle itself,so that theconversion can be carried out not only rapidly but also inexpensively.

It is advantageous if the coupling means is constructed as a drive orcoupling disc and is located, at least in its operative position, abovethe level of the wheels of the track assembly, the wheels including theroad wheels and the drive wheels and idler wheels conventional for trackassemblies. Suitable motiontransmitting means, for instance a drivechain arrangement or the like, may transmit motion from the couplingdisc to the drive wheel or wheels of the track assembly, and thecoupling disc itself or discs may be provided with holes or the like forconnection with the brake drum of the motor vehicle. In fact, aplurality of such connecting means, in form of apertures or the like,may be provided on the coupling disc so that depending upon the type ofbrake drum or type of vehicle involved, different ones of theseapertures may be utilized for effecting the necessary connection. Itneed not be emphasized that different vehicles have different numbersand differently arranged apertures on the brake drum for connectingpurposes, or pins, bolts or the like which are arranged differently andprovided in different numbers.

It is advantageous if the track assembly has a frame which constitutesthe support means and if in turn the frame is provided with at least oneextension portion which extends under the chassis of the vehicle beingconverted and is provided with an abutment, preferably a spring-elasticabutment, which engages the chassis and serves to limit relativemovements which can be performed by the vehicle with reference to thetrack assembly, and vice versa. The dimensioning of the projectingportion and the size of the abutment surface can be so selected that inoperative position the abutment engages an engaging portion which onmany vehicles (for instance on the Volkswagen) is provided on thechassis routinely for engagement of the vehicle jack. In many types ofvehicles where such jack engaging portions are routinely provided, theyare located slightly forwardly of the driven rear wheels of the vehicleand the abutment provided for this purpose on the track assembly canreadily be made to reach to such engaging portion. In particular, it ispossible to make the projecting portion and/or the abutment adjustableso as to accommodate them readily to different types of vehicles. Thepurpose is, of course, to suppress or at least reduce undesired relativemovements between the track as sembly and the vehicle in a simple butyet reliable and effective manner.

It is also desirable, although not necessary, to provide additionalengaging portions which are releasably interposed between the trackassembly and the vehicle. Particularly if the vehicle is of the typehaving jointed cross-shaft axles, it may be desirable and necessaryinorder to reduce the possibility of changes in the track width of thetrack assembly and to eliminate canting of the tracks of the assemblywith reference to one another-to limit the spring movement of such anaxle to the maximum possible extent. For this purpose it is desirable toprovide the track assembly with at least one preferably elasticallyyieldably mounted supporting element which can be connected withconnectors pro vided on the vehicle chassis for anchoring purposes,namely for anchoring certain structural components such as thetransmission, a trailer hitch or the like. This is particularlyadvantageous where the vehicle is a passenger car having a rear engineand rear wheel drive. To limit the movement of a cross-shaft jointedaxle it is desirable to provide at least one arm which extendstransversely of the direction of movement of the vehicle and can bereleasably connected with the track assembly, and further releasablyconnected with the vehicle by means of a flange or the like, again forinstance at the suspension for the transmission or at an additionalprovided connecting portion. This transverse arm may advantageouslyengage the track assembly at opposite lateral sides thereof and of thevehicle,- whereby the track width of the track assembly is fixed to aconstant value in a simple and reliable manner. The length of thiscrossarm or transverse arm can be made adjustable, for instance by meansof a thread and a cooperating internally threaded sleeve, with the armthen being composed of two relatively movable sections. Such anarrangement has the advantage that it permits an adjustment fordifferent loads carried by the vehicle as well as an adjustment fordifferent types of vehicles. The connection of the cross arm at thevehicle as well as at the track assembly may be made elasticallyyieldably by the interposition of elastically yieldable components.

It is sufficient with the above embodiment to secure on the vehicle asupporting plate or the like to which a flange of the cross arm can bereleasably connected. If such a supporting plate is provided on thevehicle, and it may for instance resemble a mounting plate for a trailerhitch or the like, then the vehicle may be provided in a simple mannerwith the track assembly, that is it may be connected therewith in asimple manner and the cross arm can be similarly simply connected withthe vehicle in order 'to prevent the undesired movements of the jointedcross-shaft axle.

According to a further embodiment of the invention the track assemblymay have a length which is at least equal to the distance between thefront and rear axles of the vehicle, and additional supporting elementsmay be provided which are connected with the vehicle in the region ofthe front axle thereof, preferably with the brake drums of thenon-driven front wheels which are then removed. The brakes at the twovehicle sides, which may for instance be mechanically operated by thehandbrake, may then be provided with a simple auxiliary device whichpermits them'to be operated independently, that is to operate the brakesat one side but not at the other, or vice versa. In this manner themovement of the tracks at one side of the vehicle may be brakedindependently of the movement of the tracks at the other side, so thatsteering of the vehicle is made very simple. In other words, when thetrack at one side is braked, the vehicle will perform a movement througha curve which moves in the direction toward the brake side. Especiallyif in such an embodiment the vehicle has jointed cross-shaft axles, theaforementioned cross arm may be advantageously provided because thejointed cross-shaft axles permit angular inclinations between the frontand rear axles which would have to be absorbed by deformation of thetrack assembly extending from the front to the rear axle, an undesirablerequirement. By providing the cross arm or arms, this necessity isavoided.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims.

The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and itsmethod of operation, together with additional objects and advantagesthereof, will be best understood from the following description ofspecific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrmmaticside-elevational view of a vehicle provided with a track assemblyaccording to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating a further embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 4 is an end-elevational view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side-elevational somewhat diagrammatic detail view of thetrack assembly in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top-plan view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary end-elevational view of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic fragmentary detail view, on an enlarged scale,of an additional embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now the drawing indetail, and firstly the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 57, itwill be seen that a motor vehicle (here illustrated as a Volkswagen) isidentified in toto with reference numeral 1. It is known that aVolkswagen has rearwheel drive, that is the rear axle and rear wheelsare driven. In the illustrated embodiment the rear wheels of the vehicle1 have been replaced with a track assembly 2 according to the presentinvention.

As a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2 shows clearly, the track assemblyutilizes two sections each provided in lieu of one of the rear wheels ofthe vehicle. The front wheels 3 of the vehicle, which are the steeringwheels,

FIGS. 5-7 illustrate details of the track assembly 2,

it being understood that only a single section is illustrated and thatthe non-illustrated second section is identical but symmetrical withreference to the one that has been shown. Each of the sections isconnected with the brake drum of one of the rear wheels of the vehicle1.

As shown in FIGS. 57, each of the sections of the track assembly 2comprises a drive wheel or sprocket 5, a plurality of road wheels 6 andan idler wheel 7. Trained about these wheels is a track 8 whichadvantageously is of elastomeric material provided at the outer sidefacing the ground with transversely extending cleats 22a. Each sectionof the track assembly 2 is provided with a support means in form of aframe 9 or the like which may consist of four tubular members ofQuadratic or other cross-section. Furthermore, each of the sections ofthe track assembly 2 carries two of the tracks 8 (compare FIGS. 6 and 7)which are transversely spaced from one another with the frame 9 beinglocated between them. Suitable journalling means are provided forsupporting the wheels 5, 6 and 7, and supporting arms 10 extendintermediate the tracks 8 upwardly and support a coupling means in formof a drive disc 11 located at a level above the tracks 8 and the wheels5, 6 and 7.

The drive disc 11 braces the respective section of the track assembly 2with reference to the vehicle 1 which has been omitted in FIGS. 5-7 forthe sake of clarity except for the brake drum 12 at one side. When avehicle 1 is to be converted to a track-laying vehicle, the wheels areremoved from the brake drums ofthe driven axle, here the rear axle, andthe drive disc 11 of the respective assembly section is secured to thebrake drum 12 in known manner, that is in the same manner in which thewheel would normally be secured thereto. It should be understood thatthe term brake drum as used herein is intended to designate any wheelmount irrespective of whether it is actually a brake drum or not, suchas'a wheel disc or the like, as long as it serves to mount one of thewheels when the vehicle is in a wheeled operating mode. The drive disc11 is provided with non-illustrated apertures or the like by means ofwhich it can be connected with the brake drum 12 in the same manner inwhich a wheel would normally be secured thereto. As pointed out before,a plurality of such apertures or the like may be provided on the drivedisc 11 so that the latter can be connected with a brake drum 12irrespective of the particular type of vehicle involved, that isselective ones of the apertures will be utilized in any given instance,depending upon the number and distribution of the correspondingapertures or bolts on the particular brake drum. This means that thedrive disc 11 can be used with different types of brake drums and,accordingly, with different types of vehicles.

The drive disc 11 is journalled floatingly in the region where theupwardly inclined (in triangular manner) arms 10 are connected with oneanother, with their lower ends of course being connected with the frame9. Coaxial to the drive disc 11 there is further provided in this regiona chain sprocket 14 which is mounted so as to be rotatable together withthe drive disc 11, and about which a drive chain is trained in theillustrated embodiment, identified with reference numeral 13 and alsobeing trained about a further chain sprocket 15 which is mounted on ashaft 16 of the track assembly 2. The shaft 16 is in turn fast with thedrive wheels 5 of the two tracks 8 of the illustrated section of thetrack assembly, with the same arrangement being of course provided asfor the other non-illustrated section of the assembly 2.

With this embodiment the tracks of each section, and accordingly allfour tracks of the track assembly 2, are

located below the wheel well of the vehicle 1 so that no dimensionallimitations are imposed on them by the physical configurations of thewheel well. Moreover, this of course makes it possible for the tracks toextend underneath the vehicle which would not otherwise be possible, apossibility which is further facilitated by suf ficient lengths of thearms 10. With such a construction both the length and the width of thetracks 8, and of the' overall track assembly 2, can be made sufficientlylarge to make a converted vehicle suitable for travel in all types ofterrain. Nevertheless, with this embodiment the track assembly can bereadily assembled and disassembled with respect to the vehicle, by asimple exchange of the track assembly 2 against the driven wheels of thevehicle.

As FIG. 5 shows, the arms 10 may at least in part be hollow so that thedrive chain 13 may be totally or partly accommodated in the respectivearms. The road wheels 6 or supporting wheels are provided in theillustrated embodiment with an elastically yieldable periphery 17, forinstance conventional air-filled tires, in order to provide betteraccommodation to unevenness of the ground.

Each frame is provided with at least one extension portion 18 whichextends beneath the chassis of the vehicle 1 and carries at least oneabutment 19, here illustrated in the preferred manner as spring-elastic.The projecting portion 18 and/or the abutment 19 may be made adjustableif desired in well-known manner, and in the operative position thereofit extends to and engages with an engaging portion 20 provided on thevehicle in routine manner (not a part of the invention) for engagementwith a vehicle jack. In this way, relative movements between vehicle 1and the track assembly 2 are limited if not suppressed. Of course, thechassis of the vehicle will ordinarily be strong enough to cooperatewith the abutment 19 in this manner. The engaging portions 20 areusually or frequently located forwardly of but adjacent the rear wheelsof a rear-wheel drive vehicle, so that proper engagement of the abutment19 with the engaging portion 20 will usually take place even indifferent types of vehicles, especially if the abutment 19 has asufficiently large contact surface and/or is made adjustable.

The idler wheels 7 may be made displaceable in longitudinal direction ofthe tracks 8, so that the tracks may be tensioned, and this is wellknown from tracked vehicles and requires no further explanation. Theidler wheels 7 and the drive wheels 5 may be guided at opposite lateralsides in the tracks 8, which is illustrated for instance in theleft-hand track 8 of FIG. 7 where abutment portions 21 at the inner sideof the track provide lateral guidance at opposite sides of the drivewheel 5. Of course, the drive wheel 5 is provided with teeth orsprockets in conventional manner which cooperate with the track 8 toadvance the latter.

FIGS. 6 and 7 also show in broken lines additional reinforcementelements 22 which extend underneath the vehicle 1 in upward inclination.These additional reinforcement portions 22 may be provided, asillustrated, but they can be omitted. If they are provided, then theyare secured releasably by means of a clamp 23 or the like, preferablywith an internal elastically yieldably lining (rubber or the like), orwith a different releasable means, which engages a tube 23 surroundingthe nonillustrated driven axle. The portions 22 are connected with themembers 10 somewhat above the tracks 8 and provide in a simple andreliable manner a stiffening and bracing of the sections of the trackassembly in longitudinal and transverse direction. In this manner thecomplexity of connecting and disconnecting the track assembly from thevehicle 1 is increased only very slightly, especially due to the simplemanner of connecting and disconnecting the portions 22 from the tube 24,whereas on the other hand the connection between the vehicle and trackassembly is substantially improved. Especially if the vehicle it withthe track assembly 2 is used for work rather than purely for pleasure,for instance for repairing ski runs by compressing the snow thereon, andwhere substantial inclinations are frequently present significant forcesbeing required to be transmitted, such an embodiment is highlyadvantageous. In this connection it is also pointed out that the smallerdiameter of the drive wheels with respect to the original vehicle wheels(compare for instance the front wheels 3 with the drive wheel 5 inFIG. 1) provides for a greater step-down ratio between the vehicle driveand the track assembly, which is advantageous and which can be furthervaried, if desired, by appropriately configurated and constructed chainsprockets or the like. If an elastically yieldable lining is provided inthe component 23, small relative movements between the tube 24 and theportions 22 can be readily absorbed.

Especially if the driven wheels of the vehicle are mounted on a jointedcross-shaft axle, it is further advantageous to utilize the expedientillustrated in chain lines in FIGS. 6 and 7. This can be utilized incombination with the other possibilities illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7,or it can be utilized for instance without the portions 22. As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7 there is provided at least one additional, preferablyelastically mounted bracing member which may for instance beconfigurated as a tube or the like, and which can be connected tosuitable anchoring portions of the vehicle chassis, for instance theconnection for a trailer hitch, for the transmission or the like. Thepurpose is to limit pivotal movements of the axis, and in theillustrated embodiment the additional bracing element is in the form ofa support 25, for instance a transversely extending tube, which extendstransversely of the direction of movement of the vehicle and isconnected to the track assembly 2. By means of a flange 26 or the likeit can be connected to the vehicle 1 as mentioned above, and as shown inFIG. 7. Advantageously the member 25 is connected with the frames 9 atopposite sides of the vehicle, that is with the two sections of thetrack assembly, and FIG. 7 illustrates this by having the arm 25 extendbeyond both lateral sides of the flange 26. It is advantageous if thelength of the arm 24 is adjustable, for instance by means of a threadprovided on one section of the arm and an internally threaded sleeve 27provided on a second section of the arm. This makes it possible toadjust the space between the two sections of the assembly 2 withreference to one another, in accommodation to the load acting upon thevehicle at any time. The portion of the arm 25 which extends to therespective frame 9 can be configurated as a threaded bolt 28 or the likeonto which the sleeve 27 is threaded. With this arrangement pendulum orpivotal movements of a jointed cross-shaft axle can be largelysuppressed whereby the track width of the track assembly remainsconstant at all times for all intents and purposes. This possibility isparticularly important because a great many vehicles are provided withrear engines and with jointed cross-shaft axles. In fact, thispossibility is especially advantageous not only when the axle is ajointed cross-shaft axle but when at the same time the engine of thevehicle is a rear engine, because the weight of the rear engine affordsa particularly good ground contact for the tracks of the track assembly.Elastic intermediate components or cushions may be provided at theconnection of the arm 25 to the vehicle 1 as well as to the sections ofthe track assembly 2, to provide for absorbing of minor relativemovements between these elements.

The frame 9 may also be composed of three quadratic tubes, or of tubeswhich are of different crosssectional configuration, and the axes forthe road wheels 6 are provided at the lower portion of the frame 9.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a further embodiment in which the trackassembly 20 has a length which corresponds at least to the distancebetween the front and rear axle of the vehicle. In this embodiment thereare provided additional supporting elements 29 which con-- nect thetrack assembly 2a with the wheel mounts of the non-driven wheels, in theillustrated embodiment of the front wheels of the vehicle. In thisembodiment also the brakes which are mechanically operated, that is forinstance the handbrakes, may be independently operable for both sides ofthe vehicle. The purpose here is to guide the vehicle, analogously tothe manner in which a full-track vehicle is guided such as a militarytank, by retarding via the brake operating at one side of the vehicleone of the tracks of the track assembly, so that the vehicle then slewsabout this one track towards the side at which the brake is operated.This is well possible because via the differential gear of the vehiclethe drive of the track at the other side of the vehicle continueswithout interruption and without braking.

FIG. 8 illustrates a simple additional component which can be combinedwith the handbrake of the vehicle to make such independent operation ofthe brakes at opposite sides of the vehicle possible. As illustrated,the normal lever 30 of the vehicle handbrake is provided with eyes 31 towhich normally the Bowden linkages 32 of the handbrake are connected.When the lever 30 is raised upwardly, the Bowden linkages aresimultaneously tensioned and then the brakes at both sides of thevehicle are simultaneously operated. Conventionally it is the brakes forthe rear wheels which are operated via the handbrake lever 30.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a control lever 33which is connected to the lever 30 in the region of the eyes 31, via abifurcated element 34. The connection may be effected by clamping, byscrewing or the like, and in FIG. 2 a screw 35 is provided which mayeither penetrate the lever 30 or may clamp the member 34 to the lever30. Located above the point of connection established via the screw 35,the lever 33 carries two arms 36 which are movable with it and by meansof nuts 32a the Bowden linages 32 are connected to the respective arms36 instead of to the eyes 31 as was previously the case. The controllever 33 is mounted in the bifurcated member 34 by means of a screw,bolt or similar connector 33 so as to be pivotable in the direction ofthe double-headed arrow PF transversely of the direction in which thearm or lever 30 can be raised or lowered.

So modified as illustrated in FIG. 8, raising of the normal handbrakelever 30 moves the bifurcated member 34 with it, whereby the Bowdenlinkages 32 are simultaneously tensioned as before. Thus, the brakes atboth sides of the vehicle are simultaneously operated. If, however, thelever 30 is left in the position illustrated in FIG. 8 and it is desiredto operate the brakes of only one side of the vehicle, then the controllever 33 is pivoted in the direction of the arrow PF, and by moving itin one lateral direction the brakes at the opposite side will beoperated by tensioning of the associated Bowden linkage 32. This meansthat the tracks at the side whose brakes are operated, will be retardedso that the vehicle (whose tracks at the other side continue to bedriven uninterruptedly) will slew about the retarded track and willdrive in a curve which has the retarded track as its pivot. Such anembodiment of course greatly facilitates the maneuverability of thevehicle in difficult terrain, in the same manner in which this is knownfrom full-track vehicles, for instance from track-laying tractors orfrom track-laying military vehicles.

The embodiment in FIG. 8 is primarily intended for use with theembodiment in FIGS. 3 and 4, but it will be understood that it can alsobe used with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 if desired, and that inthis case, it will further include the maneuverability of the embodimentof FIGS. 1 and 2 also.

The embodiment in FIG. 8 is very simple and can be readily incorporatedin an existing vehicle at the existing handbrake, without thereby in anyway detracting from the normal operation of the handbrake when it isdesired unnecessary to operate the brakes at both sides ofthe vehiclesimultaneously as is the case when the vehicle is in the fully wheeledmode.

Particularly in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 the transverse arm isadvantageous for preventing pendulum movements of the jointedcross-shaft axle, if such is present in the vehicle, because otherwisebending or torsional stresses may occur in the frames 9 of the sectionsof the track assembly intermediate the front and rear axles of thevehicle.

It will be appreciated that the present invention makes it possible in asimple and advantageous as wellas speedy manner, to convert wheeledvehicles, for instance passenger cars or the like, and also deliveryvans, small trucks and the like, to a track-laying mode, with thevehicle being capable of being converted either into a half track (FIGS.1 and 2) or a full track (FIGS. 3 and 4). Thus, wheeled vehicles can bereadily converted for use in difficult terrain that cannot normally benegotiated by wheeled vehicles, including snowy or icy terrain.

Thus, the present invention makes it possible for instance to readilyconvert wheeled vehicles for use as emergency assistance vehicles, forinstance in case of such natural catastrophes as snow-slides or thelike, as supply vehicles for snowy or rocky terrain, as hunting vehiclesin such terrain or as commercially usable vehicles, for instance forpreparing and maintaining ski runs or the like. Naturally, the vehicleitself or the track assemblies may be provided with snow rollers or thelike which are shown in broken lines in FIG. 4 and identified withreference numeral a, for rolling and depressing the snow if the vehicleis used for preparation and/or maintenance of ski runs or the like.

It is evident that, taking merely one possible utilization of thepresent invention by way of example, the present invention makes itpossible to obtain a vehicle for construction and maintenance of skiruns by simple and reliable conversion on a temporary basis of anormally wheeled motor vehicle, thus providing the possibility of usingan existing normally wheeled motor vehicle on a temporary basis forcarrying out work that would normally have to be carried out by highlyexpensive and complicated specialty vehicles. Also, of course, thepresent invention makes it possible for drivers of a normally wheeledmotor vehicle to readily convert the same for track-laying use, forinstance when weather conditions make this necessary. This is highlyadvantageous, for example, for persons operating motor vehicles in areasin which in the winter time weather conditions are likely to become sobad as to make it difficult if not impossible to operate a wheeled motorvehicle in the normal manner. Under such circumstances the vehicle canthen be readily converted into a track-laying vehicle which can operatewhere it could not operate before. Especially the embodiment in FIGS. 1and 2 can be made small and light enough so that it can be carried alongon the vehicle itself, for instance on a roof rack provided for thispurpose, or in a sufficiently large trunk or in the back of astationwagon, so that the vehicle can be converted from wheeled totrack-laying operation almost anywhere and on very short notice.

The arrangement of the tracks of the assembly beneath the driven axle ofthe vehicle and below the bottom or floor of the vehicle, makes itpossible (as already pointed out earlier) to construct the tracksthemselves very wide without having to fear contact of the tracks withany component of the vehicle itself, thereby greatly facilitating theoperability of the track assembly. Also, two individual parallel trackstogether constitute a section of the track assembly, which means thatthe wheels for the tracks can be located very close to the actual wheelbearings of the motor vehicle which is advantageous in terms of the loadacting on the vehicle axle.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in atrack assembly for converting a normally wheeled motor vehicle into atrack-laying vehicle, it is not intended to be limited to the detailsshown, since various modifications and structural changes may be madewithout departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

l. A track assembly for converting a normally wheeled motor vehiclehaving a plurality of wheel mounts at least one of which is driven, intoa tracklaying vehicle, comprising support means including a supportframe and support members connected with said support frame and havingat least two support arms extending upwardly from said support framedefining therewith a substantially triangular configuration; wheel meansmounted on said support means and including drive means rotatable aboutan axis; track means comprising two spacedtrack sets each having twotransversely spaced endless tracks framed about said wheel means atopposite lateral sides of respective arms of said support members andengaging with said drive wheel means so as to be driven by the same, andcoupling means carried by said support means and connected with saiddrive wheel means in motiontransmitting relationship and adapted to beconnected with said one wheel mount in motion-receiving relationship,said coupling means including a coupling disc member mounted on saidsupport arms for rotation in axial parallelism with said drive wheelmeans.

2. A track assembly as defined in claim 1, said drive wheel meanscomprising two transversely spaced drive wheels each associated with oneof said track sets; further comprising a mounting axle extendingtransversely from one to the other of said track sets and carrying saidtwo drive wheels; and further comprising motiontransmitting means fortransmitting motion between said coupling means and said mounting axle,including a sprocket mounted on said axle intermediate said track sets,and a drive chain trained about said sprocket and cooperating with saidcoupling means.

3. A track assembly as defined in claim 1, said wheel means includingsaid drive wheel means and road wheel means; and wherein said road wheelmeans comprise a plurality of road wheels engaging said track means at aside of the latter remote from the ground and being of elasticallyyieldable material at least in the region of their respective outerperipheries.

4. A track assembly as defined in claim 1 said track means comprisingendless loops of elastomeric material having a ground-contacting outerside, and transverse cleats provided on said outer side extendingtransversely of the direction of movement of said track means.

5. A track assembly as defined in claim 1, said wheel mounts comprisinga front wheel mount and a rear wheel mount constituting said drivenwheel mount; and further comprising a pair of runners operativelyconnectable with said front wheel mount.

6. A track assembly as defined in claim 1, said coupling means beingmounted on said support means at a level above said track means and saiddrive wheel means; and further comprising motion-transmitting meansconnecting said coupling means with said drive wheel means fortransmitting to the latter such motion as is imparted to said couplingmeans by said one wheel mount.

7. A track assembly as defined in claim 6, said motion-transmittingmeans comprising chain drive means.

8. A track assembly as defined in claim 6; and further comprisingconnecting means provided on said coupling means for releasablyconnecting said coupling means with said one wheel mount.

9. A track assembly as defined in claim 1, said support means comprisingat least one extension portion adapted to extend underneath the chassisof a vehicle being converted by said track assembly, and abutment meanson said extension portion adapted to engage said chassis for limitingrelative displacements between the same and said assembly.

10. A track assembly as defined in claim 9, said chassis of said vehiclehaving an engaging portion normally adapted for engagement with a jack;and said abutment means being configurated for cooperative engagementwith said engaging portion.

11. A track assembly as defined in claim 9, said reinforcing elementhaving portions connected with said support means and said chassis,respectively; and further comprising elastically yieldable meansinterposed between said portions of said support means and chassis,respectively.

12. A track assembly as defined in claim 9, said abutment meanscomprising spring means.

13. A track assembly as defined in claim 1, said driven wheel mountcomprising a drive axle surrounded by a tubular element; and reinforcingmembers extending from said support means upwardly and inwardly towardssaid drive axle and carrying a clamping element releasably engageablewith said tubular element.

14. A track assembly as defined in claim 13, said clamping element beinga clamping sleeve partly surrounding said tubular element and comprisingan inner bushing of elastically yieldable material.

15. A track assembly as defined in claim 1, said vehicle having achassis provided with at least one anchoring portion for structuralcomponents; and further comprising at least one reinforcing elementprovided on said support means and releasably connectable with saidanchoring portion of said chassis.

16. A track assembly as defined in claim 15, said reinforcing elementcomprising at least arm one reinforcing arm extending transversely ofthe direction of advancement of said track means, and connecting meansfor releasably connecting said reinforcing arm with said anchoringportion.

17. A track assembly as defined in claim 15, said chassis havingopposite lateral sides and said track means being located at therespective lateral sides; and wherein said reinforcing element isconnected with said track means in the region of said opposite lateralsides.

18. A track assembly as defined in claim 17, said reinforcing elementcomprising at least one reinforcing arm, and varying means for varyingthe length of said reinforcing arm.

1. A track assembly for converting a normally wheeled motor vehiclehaving a plurality of wheel mounts at least one of which is driven, intoa track-laying vehicle, comprising support means including a supportframe and support members connected with said support frame and havingat least two support arms extending upwardly from said support framedefining therewith a substantially triangular configuration; wheel meansmounted on said support means and including drive means rotatable aboutan axis; tracK means comprising two spacedtrack sets each having twotransversely spaced endless tracks framed about said wheel means atopposite lateral sides of respective arms of said support members andengaging with said drive wheel means so as to be driven by the same; andcoupling means carried by said support means and connected with saiddrive wheel means in motiontransmitting relationship and adapted to beconnected with said one wheel mount in motion-receiving relationship,said coupling means including a coupling disc member mounted on saidsupport arms for rotation in axial parallelism with said drive wheelmeans.
 2. A track assembly as defined in claim 1, said drive wheel meanscomprising two transversely spaced drive wheels each associated with oneof said track sets; further comprising a mounting axle extendingtransversely from one to the other of said track sets and carrying saidtwo drive wheels; and further comprising motion-transmitting means fortransmitting motion between said coupling means and said mounting axle,including a sprocket mounted on said axle intermediate said track sets,and a drive chain trained about said sprocket and cooperating with saidcoupling means.
 3. A track assembly as defined in claim 1, said wheelmeans including said drive wheel means and road wheel means; and whereinsaid road wheel means comprise a plurality of road wheels engaging saidtrack means at a side of the latter remote from the ground and being ofelastically yieldable material at least in the region of theirrespective outer peripheries.
 4. A track assembly as defined in claim 1said track means comprising endless loops of elastomeric material havinga ground-contacting outer side, and transverse cleats provided on saidouter side extending transversely of the direction of movement of saidtrack means.
 5. A track assembly as defined in claim 1, said wheelmounts comprising a front wheel mount and a rear wheel mountconstituting said driven wheel mount; and further comprising a pair ofrunners operatively connectable with said front wheel mount.
 6. A trackassembly as defined in claim 1, said coupling means being mounted onsaid support means at a level above said track means and said drivewheel means; and further comprising motion-transmitting means connectingsaid coupling means with said drive wheel means for transmitting to thelatter such motion as is imparted to said coupling means by said onewheel mount.
 7. A track assembly as defined in claim 6, saidmotion-transmitting means comprising chain drive means.
 8. A trackassembly as defined in claim 6; and further comprising connecting meansprovided on said coupling means for releasably connecting said couplingmeans with said one wheel mount.
 9. A track assembly as defined in claim1, said support means comprising at least one extension portion adaptedto extend underneath the chassis of a vehicle being converted by saidtrack assembly, and abutment means on said extension portion adapted toengage said chassis for limiting relative displacements between the sameand said assembly.
 10. A track assembly as defined in claim 9, saidchassis of said vehicle having an engaging portion normally adapted forengagement with a jack; and said abutment means being configurated forcooperative engagement with said engaging portion.
 11. A track assemblyas defined in claim 9, said reinforcing element having portionsconnected with said support means and said chassis, respectively; andfurther comprising elastically yieldable means interposed between saidportions of said support means and chassis, respectively.
 12. A trackassembly as defined in claim 9, said abutment means comprising springmeans.
 13. A track assembly as defined in claim 1, said driven wheelmount comprising a drive axle surrounded by a tubular element; andreinforcing members extending from said support means upwardly andinwardly towards said drive axle and carrying a clamping elemenTreleasably engageable with said tubular element.
 14. A track assembly asdefined in claim 13, said clamping element being a clamping sleevepartly surrounding said tubular element and comprising an inner bushingof elastically yieldable material.
 15. A track assembly as defined inclaim 1, said vehicle having a chassis provided with at least oneanchoring portion for structural components; and further comprising atleast one reinforcing element provided on said support means andreleasably connectable with said anchoring portion of said chassis. 16.A track assembly as defined in claim 15, said reinforcing elementcomprising at least arm one reinforcing arm extending transversely ofthe direction of advancement of said track means, and connecting meansfor releasably connecting said reinforcing arm with said anchoringportion.
 17. A track assembly as defined in claim 15, said chassishaving opposite lateral sides and said track means being located at therespective lateral sides; and wherein said reinforcing element isconnected with said track means in the region of said opposite lateralsides.
 18. A track assembly as defined in claim 17, said reinforcingelement comprising at least one reinforcing arm, and varying means forvarying the length of said reinforcing arm.